Matrix band retainer for anterior teeth and traction instruments therefor



March 4, 1952 B. F. TOFFLEMIRE 2,588,059

MATRIX BAND RETAINER FOR ANTERIOR TEETH AND TRACTION INSTRUMENTS THEREFOR Filed March 24, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVEN B ENJAMIN E TOF'FLEMIRE mag/6321 7 W A'r'ro RNEYs March 1952 B. F. TOFFLEMIRE 2,588,059

' MATRIX BAND RETAINER FOR ANTERIOR TEETH AND TRACTION INSTRUMENTS THEREFOR Filed March 24, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 B 35 34 A l9 36 2@ 27 (IOTZS 18 D so INVENTOR. BENJAMIN HTOFFLgMIRE ATTORNEYS Fatented Mar. 4, 1952 MATRIX BAND "RETAINER, FOR ANTE-RIOR TEETH 'TRACTION INSTRUMENT-S Benjamin FfTo'filemire, LafayettefCaIi'f.

Application March-24, 1950,'Serial No. 1-51;604

7 Claims.

The present invention -relatesrto improvements in a matrix .band retainer :vforzanterior vteeth and tractioninstrument therefor. .It embodies :improvements over the dental matrix band retainersshown inrmy United States LettersBatent Numbers 2,437,703,:issued April 13, 1948, and 2,502,903, dated April 4, 1950.

Moreover, this invention has particular reference to improvements :with respect to the iretainer forming part of theidisclosure in my copending application on Anatomical Contact- Forming Dental 'Matrix Bands .For Anterior Teeth, Serial -No. 135,047, rfiled .in the United States PatentOfiice on December 27, 1949.

- Broadly speaking, each of the earlier .cases provides a frame having a matrix band-supporting head at one endthereof. This band is slotted to slidably receive an intermediate portion of a loopedmatrixband. The band itself extends'fromthe head soas to encircle a patients tooth. In each case theLframe has a block slidably mounted thereon, which is arranged to have the ends of the matrix band clamped thereto. Retraction .of itheblock away from the head draws the band intossnug engagement with the axial contour of thebandedtooth,whi1e advancement of the blo'ck towardthe .head. releases the band for removal from the-tooth.

-The matrix retainers disclosed vin. the foregoing mentioned patents and pending application further include :a threaded spindle and a :rotatablesleeve fo'r retracting or :advancing the slidable "block. "These parts constituteportions of the assembledretainer, :and project fromwthe 'p'a'tients em'outh sfor operation.

With this :background mind, the :present invention provides a .matrixband retainer and *a separate detachable traction instrument for actuating a matrix'band-vclamping block on the retainer. In this manner, "the retainer can the utilized for applying the band around a patients tooth; the traction instrument employed forz'drawing the band into engagement with the tooth; and thereafter this instrument may be deta'ched,.-andflaid:aside until subsequently required. 'The detachment of the traction instrul ment will "afford unobstructed view of the operative field.

Afurther object of this invention is to provide -:a retainer and instrument of :the :character described, which is simple and compact in 2 Other aobjects rand, advantages will t-appear was thegspecification@continues. The novel features will be. set -forth in the @claims shereunto wannexed.

i which :Figure Lisa asplaniviewi ofimyrmatrix band gretainer and .its traction instrument, .the -latter zibieing :shown inaopensposition;

Figure: 2- isea vertical transverse sectional. view Figure 3.1is1a siderelevational iv-iew of Iigurel; Figure 4L'is .iaaziew asimilarxto Eigurer1, *-but;-disclosing the :traction instrument -;c1osed,:-with.zthe

retainer holding the;matrix:=band tightlyvraround a bandedeanteri'or tooth;

Figure .5eisiaiside elevational-yiew rofrthematrix retainer rclamping lthe :Joand around, the tooth, the traction..=instrument having beenidetaehed;

Figure --6, is a=-mesial-distal aview ofrthe ebanded tooth, looking atithe labial surface :.(1ip-.'sidej) thereof, :as suggested ;:by the .;lines VI-r-VIr-of Figure '4, the: band being :tshown section;

Figure "I is :'an isometric wi'ew 10f .ithe zret'ainer frame; and

Figure 8 -is -an isom'etric wiew o'f :thetwo parts of the s'lida-ble blook =that I ein'plW.

While 1 -haveshown onl y the tpreferred form of my ii-ivention, i-t shouldbe u'nderstobd that various =changes, or modificationsnmayl-be made "within the scope ofthe appended clainiswlthout departing from the :spirit thereof.

- rl7etailedidescriptzon application {Serial-No. 135,047, filed-inlthelinited States Patent Ofiicer on December r27 1949,--e x-' =cepting 'for theiadditionao fr-stops or enlargements -I 0. thatare fixed tothe-ends of theband (see-Figures-l,-3 and 5).

Phis'matrix band utilizes :the =-principle-of-com pletecoronal surface-area adaptation of the :anterior tooth. Concavorconvexreminences- Lleare fashioned on this band, which definer-concavities on the tooth-embracing face of the band .disposed to registerwith ,theinormal points o f cbntact .ofthe toothbeing restored -(see i igurefi These indentations are-positionedwon both the mesial anddistal aspectsofthe banded tooth,and

receive extended portions of interproximal fillings 12. These portions of the filling will reform eminences projecting toward the adjacent teeth at the normal points of contact between these teeth. A similar filling l4 may be packed on the labial surface (toward lips) at the same time, and this filling covered by a crescent-shaped member I5 (see Figure 6).

In its structural features, the band is provided with a central cingulum-receiving notch 5 adapted to fit over the cingulum I] of the tooth and laterally-disposed gingival (gum) -facing notches l8 shaped to follow the gingival curvature of the tooth in the interproximal areas (between the teeth).

It will be noted further that the incisal-facing edge of the matrix band has two smaller incisal notches I9. These notches encircle the mesial and distal incisal angles, respectively, in such a manner that perfect adaptation to the tooth is secured without wrinkles, pleats, puckering, or undesirable irregularities. The band is fashioned with a preshaped offset 28 to fit against the lingual fossa area and the natural grooves adjacent thereto on the lingual (tongue side) inclined plane 21 of the tooth.

After the loop A is applied around the axial contour of the tooth, the end sections 22 of the matrix band are brought together in parallel relation with one another and project from the patients mouth. The stops or enlargements lo are fixed to opposite sides of these parallel arms at the free ends thereof, as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, my improved matrix band retainer is designated at D. This retainer includes a head or shoe 23 at its forward end, which is slotted at 24 (see Figure '7) to define a pair of spaced-apart fingers 25. The head has a concaved face 28 shaped to conform with the labial surface 2| of the banded tooth.

Moreover, a pair of rearwardly-extending parallel bars 28 are fixed to the head 23, and are adapted to project outwardly from the patients mouth when the concaved face 26 is moved toward the labial surface of the tooth. A clamping block D is slidably mounted on the bars 28 for ad ustment along the length thereof.

This clamping block includes upper and lower parts 29 and 30, respectively, which are arranged in confronting relation with one another above and below the bars 28, respectively. Horizontal grooves 3| are provided in the confronting faces of these block parts to slidably receive the bars 28 (see Figures 2 and 8). A stem 32 is fixed to the lower part 30 and rises through an opening 33 fashioned in the upper part 29.

' For the purpose of drawing the upper and lower parts of the clamping block D together in clamping relation with the interposed bars 28, I make use of a lever 34. This lever is swingably secured to the upper portion of the stem 32 by a pin 35, and has a cam 36 thereon (see Figure 5). This cam isdesignedto allow a slight separation of the parts 29 and 30 when the lever is raised into upright position, as shown by dot-dash lines in Figures 2, 3 and 5. However, upon swinging this lever into horizontal position, as disclosed by full lines in Figure 5, the parts 29 and 30 are clamped upon the interposed bars 28.

In order to facilitate manual grasping of the upper and lower parts 29 and 30, respectively, and sliding them along the bars 28 when the lever cam 3436 is released, I have provided concaved faces 31 along opposing sides of these two parts (see Figure 8). Thus these faces may be grasped readily by an operator for adjusting them lengthwise along the bars 28.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 8, a vertical slot 38 extends upwardly from the underneath exposed face of the lower part 30. This slot continues upwardly into the stem 32, and registers with a companion slot 39 formed in the underside of the upper part 29.

The slots 24 and 38-49 in the head 23 and clamping block D, respectively, open toward a common plane and are arranged along the longitudinal axis of my matrix band retainer. 'l'hese slots are dimensioned for edgewise insertion of the end sections 22 of the matrix band thereinto. When the band is thus introduced into the retainer, the stops or enlargement It) at the ends of the band are engaged in back of the clamping block D, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 3 and :1.

Thus when the lever cam 34-36 is raised and the block D is retracted away from the head 23, the matrix band A will be drawn tightly around the tooth B. At this time, the band will be disposed between the concaved face 28 of the head and the labial surface 21 of the tooth, as in Figure 5. The lever cam will lock the clamping block in any position to which it is adjusted by merely swinging the lever 34 into horizontal position. In order to release the band, the lever 34 is raised, the block D moved toward the head 23, and thereafter the retainer may be disengaged very easily from the matrix band.

My traction instrument is indicated generally at E. It includes a body member 40 having a reciprocable plunger 4| mounted therein. Scissor-like handles 42 are hingedly secured by pins 43 to this body member. The outer end of a pair of links 44 are hinged by pins 45 to the handles, while the inner ends of these links are attached by a pin 48 to the rear part of the plunger 4|. The arrangement is such that separation of the handles, as in Figure 1, will retract the plunger, while movement of the handles toward one another, as in Figure 4, will project the plunger forwardly with respect to the body member 40 of the traction instrument.

In Figures 1 and 3, I have shown a pair of spaced goose-neck-shaped arms 41 projecting forwardly from the body member 40 so as to overlie the clamping block D. These arms terminate. in hooks 48 at their forward ends, which are adapted to engage over the forward face of the clamping block, as shown in Figure 3. The arms 41 are spaced above the body member 40, and are positioned on opposite sides of the stem 32 and the lever cam 3438 when the traction instrument is applied to the matrix retainer. Thus the lever 34 may be raised after the traction instrumenthas been applied to the retainer to permit theblock D to be pulled rearwardly; also, the lever can be lowered to clamp the block D to the bars 28 before the instrument is detached.

The plunger 4| has a transversely-extending pin 49 at its forward end, which is adapted to be inserted into notches 50 formed in the back ends of the bars 28 (see Figure 7). Thus when the hooks 48 are positioned over the front of the block D, the pin 49 engaged in the notches 50, the block will be retracted relative to the bars 28 upon swinging the handles 42 toward one another.

In Figure 6, I show the crescent-shaped member [5 having a handle l5a rising therefrom. The upper end |5b of this handle curves away from the'banded tooth so that it may be easily grasped by the operator. The handle 15a is positioned between the 'xmatrix :abandeand tthezbandedttooth. The tooth-embracing :face aof :the zmember [511s "spoon-shaped so as to :fit against sand .conform with the labial surface :of the tooth.

Summary The matrix band A is placedaround the axial contour of the 'seleotedan'terior tooth 'B,with the central notch "I6 fitting over the 'cingulum Il, and the end sections 22 ofthe =band passingoutward labilially past the 'mesial an'ddistal "contact points of thetooth -(seetl 'igurefs) Then gingival wedgesS l'are pla'cedfimily' along the outer surfaces oftheband atthe free margin of the gin'gival tissues, as shown 'in Figure *6.

This will hold the band "securely adapted "to the margins of the prepared cavities, preventing ex- 'trusion ofthe filling'material during "compression and curing. Acrylic'm'aterials 'maybeused'for the fillings, but'I do not wish'to 'beliniite'din this respect.

The free sections 22 of th'e'ban'dm'ay bei'opened up laterally, that is, spread'mesially and -distally, after the wedges are'pla'ced. This will give access to the cavities on "the mesial, distal and labial aspects, permitting the *fillings 'I2 and 14 to be packed. Next, "the crescent-shaped .memb'er :l'5 is applied over the labial filling.

Thereafter, the free "sections "22 of the matrix band are brought "together, as in Figure "1, and inserted edgewise into the slots '24 and 38- 39 of thehead-23 and clamping block "D', respectively. Care is taken to p'lace'the stops or enlargements ID on the ends of the matrix band in a position rearwardly of the clampingblock. "Now the lever 34'ispartially depressed so as'to createsome friction between the block and the bars 2 Bot the retainer.

As the next step, the operator introduces the transverse pin 49 on the plunger 4| into the notches 50 at'theback ends of'the bars 28. 'Now the traction instrument I .is rocked from'the dot-dash'line position shown inFigure Birito'the "full line illustration therein, engaging the'hooks '48 over the front face of the clamping'blockT'D.

At this time the handles 42are spread-apart in the manner shown in Figure 1. Then the operator moves the handles toward one another, as in Figure 4. This will result in pushing the plunger 4| and the bars 28 forwardly, and retracting the block D away from the head 23, tightening the band A around the tooth B. Thereupon the lever 34 is swung into horizontal position to clamp the block D upon the bars 28. The tract-ion instrument, while engaged with the retainer, may be held in one hand of'the operator to steady the retainer during clamping of the block D to the retainer bars 28.

The operator now detaches the traction instrument E from the matrix band retainer D. During this detachment, the arms 41 are moved upwardly; and the lever 34 will not interfere with such movement, since the arms are spaced laterally beyond the lever. The traction instrument is laid to one side until needed subsequently.

In removing the retainer, the lever 34 is raised into vertical position, thus releasing the clamping action of the block D from the bars 28. The operator grasps the concaved faces 31 of the parts 29 and of the block and advances the latter toward the head 23 of the retainer. Then the retainer may be lifted from the matrix band.

The curved head 23 of the retainer not only guides the band in following the contour of the tooth, but securel izholds" the band in position with ::a spring tension *throu'ghou-t the curing process. or :setting of the:;'fillings. .Therresili'ent springxtensio'n :iexerted by :the specially-formed band and'rretainer has been 'found most tuseful in :the :prosthetic :moulding :of racry'lics .:during processing.

:It .vvill .zbexnoted ithat I have sillustrated :the matrix :band, retainer :and tractionsinstrument as being used in connectionwith a lowertanterior tooth. i'Of course, .these parts "will bezinverted :when aoperating Ion upper a'nter'ior' te'eth.

il -claim:

1. In fcombination, amatrix band retaineriand a detachable traction instrument therefor; the retainer including: a slotted head "for slidably receiving an intermediate "portion of 1a looped m'a'trix :band, with the loop extending -from the head :at least i one bar fixed to the head to' project rearward-1y therefrom; a bloo'k adjustably mounted on the "bar for movenient therealong, and having end sections-"of the matrix band re- 'movably anchored to the block; and means -"for -cla1nping the block in adjusted position on the bar; "the traction instrument including: a body member having a reciprocable "plunger mounted therein for forward and rearward :movement; the plunger being detachably connected to the bar of the retainer; at least one armrigi'd with and "projecting forwardlyfrom the body member and having a hook removably engaging over a forward face'of 'the block for pulling the block rearwardly along the bar to constrict the-matrix band loop *w'hen the plunger is projected forwardly and means for-reciprocating the plunger.

"2. In combination, amatrix band retainer and a detachable traction instrument therefor; the retainer inclu'din'gfla slotted head for -s'lidably receiving an intermediate :portion of a looped matrix band, with the loop 'extendingfrom the head; at least one bar fixed to the head to project rearwardly therefrom; "a block adjustably mounted on the bar for movement therealong,

and having end sections of the matrix band removablyan'chored "to the block; and means for clamping the-block in adjusted "position on the bar; thetraction "instrument including: 'a body wardly from the body member and arran ed on opposite sides of the plunger; the arms having hooks removably engaging over a forward face of the block'for pulling the'block rearwardly along the bar to constrict the matrix band loop when the plunger is projected forwardly; and means for reciprocating the plunger.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, in which the blocking-clamping means includes a lever-operated cam disposed between the arms of the traction instrument, with the lever being swingable in a vertical plane without interference by said arms.

4. In a matrix band retainer; a head having a slot extending thereinto from an exposed surface of the head to slidably receive an intermediate portion of a looped matrix band, with the loop projecting from the head; at least one bar fixed to the head to project rearwardly therefrom; a block adjustably mounted on the bar for movement therealong, and having a slot extending thereinto from an exposed surface of the block for edgewise insertion of end sections of the matrix band thereinto; this block having front and rear faces; the block slot extending between these front and rear faces of the block; the rear face of the block being adapted to have stops on the ends of the matrix band abut thereagainst; the block including upper and lower parts disposed above and below the bar, respectively; and means including a lever-operated cam for drawing these parts toward one another to clamp them upon the interposed bar.

5. In a matrix band retainer: a head having a slot extending thereinto from an exposed surface of the head to slidably receive an intermediate portion of a looped matrix band, with the loop projecting from the head; at least one bar fixed to the head to project rearwardly therefrom; a block adjustably mounted on the bar for movement therealong, and having a slot extending thereinto from an exposed surface of the block for edgewise insertion of end sections of the matrixband thereinto; the block further having a rear face against which stops on the ends of the matrix band are abuttable; the block including upper and lower parts disposed above and below the bar, respectively; a stem secured to one of the block parts and projecting through an opening in the other part; a swingablymounted cam connected to the stem and bearable against said other part of the block; the cam drawing the parts toward one another to clamp them upon the interposed bar when the cam is swung in one direction; and means for swinging the cam.

6.In a matrix band retainer: a head having a slot extending thereinto from an exposed surface of the head to slidably receive an intermediate portion of a looped matrix band, with the loop projecting from the head; at least on bar fixed to the head to project rearwardly therefrom; a matrix band anchoring block adjustably mounted on the bar for movement therealong, and having a slot extending thereinto from an exposed surface of the block for edgewise insertion of end sections of the matrix band thereinto;

the block including upper and lower parts disposed above and below the bar, respectively; a stem secured to one of the block parts and projecting through an opening in the other part;

a swingably-mounted cam connected to the stem and bearable against said other part of the block; the cam drawing the parts toward one another to clamp them upon the interposed bar when the cam is swung in one direction; and means for swinging the cam.

7. In a traction instrument for moving a sliding matrix band anchoring block along bars of a dental matrix band retainer: a body member having a centrally-disposed reciprocable plunger mounted therein for forward and rearward movement; a horizontally-disposed transverse pin at the forward end of the plunger projecting beyond opposite sides of the plunger, and positioned for engagement with rear portions of the retainer bars; a pair of spaced-apart goose-neckshaped arms rigidly fixed to and projecting forwardly from the body member; these arms having ofiset portions adapted for fitting over the sliding block of the retainer,v and further being provided with spaced-apart parallel hooks disposed for engaging over a forward face of this block; the transverse pin being arranged rearwardly of the hooks; the arms being disposed on opposite sides of the axis of reciprocation of the plunger; and means including scissor-like handles for reciprocating the plunger; these handles being swingable in a common plane; the hooks projecting in the same direction from the arms and being arranged substantially at right angles to the plane of movement of the handles.

BENJAMIN F. TOFFLEMIRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 358,016 Clark Feb. 22, 1887 512,942 Bricker Jan. 16, 1894 1,222,173 Anderson Apr. 10, 1917 1,438,975 Wiggins Dec. 19, 1922 2,232,236 Hlavac et a1. Feb. 18, 1941 2,286,021 Stanford June 9, 1942 2,502,903 Tofliemire Apr. 4, 1950 

